Freenet

Sunrise chief claims growing support for Liberty Global deal

Sunrise is gaining shareholder support for its troubled agreement to buy UPC Switzerland from Liberty Global, which remains a “fantastic” opportunity to realise synergies and drive consolidation in the Swiss market, according to Sunrise CEO Olaf Swantee. Speaking to CNN, Swantee said that 75% of shareholders now back the revised capital increase planned by the […]

Sunrise in fresh move to secure shareholder OK for Liberty Global deal

Swiss telco Sunrise has announced a reduction in the size of the rights issue planned to finance its troubled acquisition of UPC Switzerland in a bid to secure shareholder approval for the deal. The telco is to reduce the size of the rights issue by CHF1.3 billion (€1.2 billion) to CHF2.8 billion ahead of a […]

Swiss deal ‘makes tons of sense’, says Liberty Global chief

Liberty Global’s agreement with Sunrise to divest its UPC Switzerland unit “makes tons of sense” and it is up to the Swiss telco to “manage its shareholder base” and see the deal through, according to Liberty president and CEO Mike Fries. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference in New York, Fries said that Liberty […]

Sunrise bolsters case for UPC deal with new fairness opinion

Swiss telecom operator Sunrise has boosted its case in its battle with its biggest shareholder Freenet over the terms of its planned acquisition of cable operator UPC Switzerland from Liberty Global by receiving a favourable opinion on the fairness of the deal from ValueTrust Financial Advisors. According to to Sunrise, ValueTrust reviewed the key performance […]

More Sunrise shareholders reportedly leaning towards opposing Liberty deal

Additional shareholders in Sunrise are leaning towards joining German service provider and Sunrise’s largest shareholder Freenet in opposing the Swiss telco’s acquisition of UPC Switzerland, according to a report by Reuters. Citing unnamed sources, Reuters reports that two big investors will oppose the deal with Liberty Global, while a third has expressed reservations. Additional opposition […]

Liberty Global rejects changes to Sunrise deal

Liberty Global has rejected making any changes to its agreement with Sunrise for the sale of its Swiss unit following the eruption of hostilities between Sunrise and its biggest shareholder, Germany’s Freenet over the terms of the deal. Noting the “recent statements” from the pair on the transaction, Liberty said that was “fully committed to […]

Sunrise at war with Freenet over Liberty Global deal

The battle between Swiss service provider Sunrise and its largest shareholder Freenet over the former’s plans to acquire UPC Switzerland has escalated, with Sunrise accusing Freenet board representatives of “a conflict of interest” and resolving to exclude them from discussions about the merger. Sunrise also asserted that Freenet had previously proposed an illegal acquisition of […]

Freenet ‘not satisfied’ with Sunrise/UPC Switzerland deal 

German operator, and Sunrise’s largest shareholder, Freenet will vote against the telco’s proposed takeover of UPC Switzerland. Freenet, which owns a 24.5% stake in Sunrise, issued a statement that said: “Freenet is not satisfied with Sunrise’s acquisition of UPC Switzerland for a purchase price of CHF6.3 billion (€5.8 billion) and decided to vote against the […]

Germany’s Freenet buys 23.8% of Swiss operator Sunrise

German mobile service provider Freenet has acquired a 23.8% stake in Swiss operator Sunrise. Freenet bought a shareholding of roughly 10.7 million Sunrise shares from private equity and investment advisory firm CVC Capital Partners, which invested in the company in 2010. With the deal, Freenet chief executive officer Christoph Vilanek and chief finance officer Joachim […]

German MVNO Freenet sets out TV ambition with Media Broadcast, Exaring acquisitions

German mobile service provider Freenet has made a significant investment in its media delivery capability by acquiring 100% control of digital-terrestrial network operator and media services provider Media Broadcast and 25% of Munich-based fibre-based media delivery platform Exaring for €295 million. DVB-T deliver specialist Media Broadcast is currently preparing for the rollout of DVB-T2 services, […]